Golf in the Poconos
A mountain golf country two hours from New York and Philadelphia, where A.W. Tillinghast laid out his first course on an island in the Delaware River and Jack Nicklaus carved Great Bear from the ridgelines. The courses, the season, the costs and how to build the weekend.
Photograph: The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, via Google
Why golf in the Poconos
The Pocono Mountains are the closest real golf escape to the cities of the northeast, a rumpled plateau of forest, lakes and ridgelines spread across northeastern Pennsylvania, barely two hours from Manhattan and ninety minutes from Philadelphia. This is mountain golf without the altitude or the airfare: cooler summer air, dramatic elevation changes, fast turning fairways through the hardwoods and a famous show of color when the leaves turn in October. For a weekend society outing, a family golf break or a buddies trip that nobody has to fly to, it is one of the best value drive to destinations in the eastern United States.
The golf runs deep on history. The Shawnee Inn, on its island in the Delaware River, was the very first course A.W. Tillinghast ever designed, opened in 1911 and host to the 1938 PGA Championship, with Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer among the players who have walked it. At the other end of the timeline sits Great Bear, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course from 1997 that is the most admired layout in the region. Between them, Jack Frost National, Skytop Lodge, Mountain Laurel and a string of resort and public courses give a group enough variety to fill three or four days without a long drive between rounds.
How to think about a Poconos golf trip
The Delaware Water Gap
The southern gateway, anchored by the historic Shawnee Inn on its river island and the Nicklaus designed Great Bear nearby. The most accessible cluster for a group arriving from New York or Philadelphia.
The central plateau
Around Mount Pocono and Lake Harmony, where Skytop Lodge, Mountain Laurel, Pocono Manor and Jack Frost National sit among the resorts and lakes, the heart of a stay and play weekend.
The northern lakes
Quieter country toward Hawley and Lake Wallenpaupack, with friendly public courses, lakeside lodging and the calmest, most scenic golf in the region for a relaxed break.
The courses that matter
The Shawnee Inn
The course that launched Tillinghast's career, his first ever design, laid out across an island in the Delaware River and reachable by a short ferry. Twenty seven holes of historic riverside golf that hosted the 1938 PGA Championship and once welcomed Snead and Palmer. The most atmospheric resort round in the Poconos.
Great Bear
The Golden Bear's only design in northeastern Pennsylvania and the most acclaimed course in the region, cut through wetlands and forest near the Delaware Water Gap. A demanding, beautifully conditioned championship layout. Access is private, so a member introduction or a trip planner is the way on.
Jack Frost National
A modern mountain championship course set on a former ski resort near Lake Harmony, with big elevation changes, generous landing areas and panoramic ridge top views. The strongest public play in the Poconos and the natural centerpiece for a stay and play weekend.
Skytop Lodge
An 18 hole par 72 wrapped around the grand Skytop Lodge on its mountain estate, all manicured fairways and long views over the central plateau. A classic resort round that pairs golf with one of the most storied hotels in the region.
Mountain Laurel and Pocono Manor
Two long standing resort courses in the heart of the plateau, both rolling parkland tracks that suit a society group of mixed handicaps. Easy to pair on consecutive days from a single base around Mount Pocono and Lake Harmony.
The northern public courses
Around Lake Wallenpaupack and Hawley, friendly daily fee courses such as Cricket Hill and the Hideout offer relaxed, scenic golf at the lowest prices in the region, the value end of a Poconos trip and a fine warm up or wind down round.
Designers, opening years and formats verified June 2026 from the clubs and leading course databases. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
Best golf courses in the Poconos Check tee time availability
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May to June | Green, mild, courses freshening up after winter | Excellent early season golf, quieter and good value |
| July to August | Warm days, cooler mountain evenings, busy resorts | Peak family and resort season, book tee times ahead |
| September to October | Crisp, settled air and the famous fall foliage | The prime window, the most scenic and reliable golf |
| November to April | Cold, frost and snow at altitude | Most courses closed, the off season in the mountains |
The Pocono golf season runs roughly April to early November. Late September and October, when the leaves turn, is the signature time to play.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public course green fee | Around $40 to $80 | Northern lakes and resort daily fee courses, cart often included |
| Marquee green fee | Around $90 to $160 | The Shawnee Inn and Jack Frost National in peak season |
| A weekend of golf, all in | Around $500 to $1,100 per person | Resort lodging, three rounds and meals, excluding travel |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Stay and play packages lower the per round cost. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
The Poconos are a drive to destination, and that is their charm. From New York the run is roughly ninety minutes to two hours up Interstate 80, from Philadelphia about ninety minutes north, and the Lehigh Valley airport at Allentown sits less than an hour from the southern courses for anyone flying in. Once you are in the mountains a car is essential, but the distances between courses are short, rarely more than thirty or forty minutes, so a group can comfortably play a different course each day from one base. The roads are scenic rather than fast, so leave a little margin around the morning tee time.
Where to stay
For history and convenience, base at one of the golf resorts themselves. The Shawnee Inn puts you on the river beside Tillinghast's course, while Skytop Lodge and the resorts around Mount Pocono and Lake Harmony offer rooms, dining and golf on the doorstep, ideal for a stay and play weekend. Groups who want lake views and self catering can rent a house around Lake Wallenpaupack in the north, while couples often pair golf with the spas and restaurants the region is known for. Pick a single base near the central plateau and the whole region opens up within a short drive.
Plan your Poconos golf trip
Tell us your group, your dates and whether you want the historic resorts, the Nicklaus and championship courses, or a relaxed lakeside break. One concierge costs the trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Poconos golf questions
How many golf courses are there in the Poconos?
The Pocono Mountains hold roughly twenty to thirty courses across northeastern Pennsylvania, a mix of historic resort layouts, mountain championship courses and friendly public tracks. The headline names are the Shawnee Inn, the Nicklaus designed Great Bear, Jack Frost National, Skytop Lodge and Mountain Laurel, most within an hour of one another.
Which is the best golf course in the Poconos?
Great Bear, a Jack Nicklaus Signature design from 1997, is the most acclaimed course in the region, though access is private. For visitors, the historic Shawnee Inn, Tillinghast's first design from 1911 on a Delaware River island, and the public Jack Frost National are the marquee plays.
When is the best time to play golf in the Poconos?
The season runs from roughly April to early November, with the prime window from May to October. Late September and October bring the famous mountain foliage and crisp, settled conditions, while midsummer is warm and green. The courses close over the snowbound winter.
How much does golf cost in the Poconos in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around $40 to $80 at the public courses up to roughly $90 to $160 at the Shawnee Inn and Jack Frost National in peak season, often with a cart. Stay and play packages lower the per round cost. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Course openings, booking windows and the drive to golf breaks worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, opening years and formats verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.